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- Aug 16, 2010
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[h=1]Pray for me,' 76-year-old Argentinian Jorge Bergoglio asks the world as he is announced as 266th pontiff... to be named Francis I[/h]
The 76-year-old was welcomed by tens of thousands of overjoyed Catholics in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City after his election was revealed when white symbolic smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney.
Pope Francis becomes the first South American Pontiff and the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church.
His South American origin - also making him the first non-European Pope - is a significant move for the Church, taking the Papacy to a continent in which 42 per cent of the world's Catholics live amid a plethora of recent scandals affecting the Vatican.
Known as an avid reformer, he becomes the third non-Italian Pope in a row, having being born and spent his life in the Argentinian capital.
Scroll down for video and live footage
Looking out: Newly elected Pope Francis I appeared on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City before tens of thousands of excited Catholics
A first: The 76-year-old, unveiled as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, becomes both the first South American and Jesuit Pope
Talented: Pope Francis I, the first pontiff to have chosen that papal title, speaks German, Italian and Spanish. He is pictured right meeting his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI
Joker: He began his address to the crowd with a joke, saying that his brother cardinals had gathered to pick a bishop of Rome 'and they have chosen one from far away but here I am'
Joined in prayer: Dressed in white robes with an elaborate stole, he asked the crowds to pray for his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI
Jubilation: The conclave was called after Pope Benedict XVI resigned last month for health reasons
Celebrations: Catholics react as white smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel
Overview: The thriving crowd pictured outside the Sistine Chapel eagerly anticipating the appearance of the new Pontiff on the balcony
Giving thanks: One Catholic in the Vatican City raised his hands and looked to the skies as the white smoke signified a decision had been made
Decision made: White smokes billows from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel indicating that a new Pontiff has been elected by Cardinals
He began his address to the crowd with a joke, saying that his brother cardinals had gathered to pick a bishop of Rome 'and they have chosen one from far away but here I am'. He then asked for prayers for his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.
Dressed in white robes with an elaborate stole, he said: 'First and foremost I would like to pray for our emeritus Pope Benedict XVI that Christ and the Madonna watch over him.
'Let us being this journey together, this journey for the Roman Catholic Church. It's a journey of friendship and love and faith between us. Let us pray for one another, let us pray for all the world.'
He then asked the crowd to be silent for a moment and pray for him as he accepted his new position. 'I'd ask you to pray to God so that he can bless me,' Pope Francis said, leading a silent prayer, followed by a loud cheer from the crowd.
He said that the world 'should set off on a path of love and fraternity', leaving the address by saying to the crowds: 'Good night and I wish you a peaceful rest.'
The Vatican said he chose the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, who formed the Franciscan order, saying that the new Pope is a 'lover of the poor'.
The native Spanish speaker is multilingual, also speaking German and Italian. He courted controversy in 2005 when a human rights lawyer filed a criminal complaint against him accusing the cardinal of conspiring with the Argentinian junta to kidnap two Jesuit priests in 1976.
The military junta took charge of the country after Isabel Peron was overthrown by a right-wing coup.
In his role as superior of the Society of Jesus of Argentina that year, the cardinal had allegedly asked the priests to leave their pastoral work following conflict within the Society over how to respond to the new military dictatorship.
Pope Francis is the first Jesuit Pope, the collective name given to members of the Society of Jesus, the largest order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church.
Tens of thousands had cheered in St.Peter 's Square at the sight of the symbolic plumes, announcing that the successor to Benedict XVI had finally been chosen after two days of intense voting.
The first tweet of Francis Is reign, posted on the papal Twitter account Pontifex, read: HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM, meaning We have Pope Francis.
On his personal account, he tweeted shortly after the decision, writing: 'Perhaps a little humility in saying I am simply representative of God on Earth, just as God is representative of me in Heaven.'
He followed this 20 minutes later with a message saying 'Extremely happy to be the new Pope, Francisco I'.
[h=3]THE SON OF A RAILWAY WORKER WHO WAS ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH THE ARGENTINIAN JUNTA[/h]
Family photo: Pope Francis I, second from left in back row, poses for a picture with his family in an unknown location
By Tara Brady
Pope Francis - the first Jesuit pope - has spent nearly his entire career at home in Argentina.
The former Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, reportedly got the second-most votes after Joseph Ratzinger, the last pope, in the 2005 papal election.
He has long specialised in the kind of pastoral work - overseeing churches and priests - that some say is an essential skill for a pope.
In a lifetime of teaching and leading priests in Latin America, which has the largest share of the world's Catholics, the former Bergoglio has shown a keen political sensibility as well as a self-effacing humility, according to his official biographer, Sergio Rubin.
His personal style is the antithesis of Vatican splendor. Bergoglio is also known for modernising an Argentine church that had
been among the most conservative in Latin America.
He chose the name Pope Francis I, after St Francis of Assisi and is the first pope from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in over a thousand years.
He was born in Buenos Aires, one of five children of an Italian railway worker and his wife and was ordained to the priesthood in 1969.
On April 15, 2005, a human rights lawyer filed a criminal complaint against Bergoglio, accusing him of conspiring with the junta in 1976 to kidnap two Jesuit priests, whom he, as superior of the Society of Jesus of Argentina in 1976, had asked to leave their pastoral work following conflict within the Society over how to respond to the new military dictatorship, with some priests advocating a violent overthrow.
Bergoglio's spokesman has flatly denied the allegations. No evidence was presented linking the cardinal to this crime.
Of all the contenders to replace Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was little mentioned.
The 76-year-old reportedly received the second most votes after Joseph Ratzinger, the last pope, in the 2005 papal election.
And as a representative of South America's Catholics - who make up an estimated 40 per cent of the 1.2 billion strong church, he was widely supported on a massive scale.
He became Pope Francis after a surprisingly quick conclave winning 77 votes, or two-thirds of the 115 cardinals' votes, on the fifth ballot.
His decision to pick the name Francis evokes key Christian tenets such as simplicity and humility.
And they are fitting for a man who, spending nearly his entire career in Argentina, is known for catching the bus and eschewing the luxuries of high office.
His personal style is said to be the antithesis of Vatican splendour.
Pope Francis has been described by commentators as a voice of conscience and a reconciler.
Classed by some as a moderniser of a strict South American church, he is still conservative and an opponent of such ideas as gay marriage.
This early 1950's picture shows Jorge Mario Bergoglio, right, posing with unidentified schoolmates of a preparatory school in Buenos Aires
Excitement: Crowds gathered beneath the chimney awaiting the symbolic smoke and applauded when white smoke finally emerged
Show of faith: One Catholic stands with a sign reading 'Viva il Papa', translated as 'Long live the Pope'
Embrace: Cardinal Bergoglio being embraced by the then-Pope John Paul II
Reaction at home: Catholics at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires celebrate the news
Captivated: People stand in St. Peter's Square listen Pope Francis I's address in the Vatican City
Pope Benedict XVI joined Twitter in December, garnering more than 1.5 million followers before he ended his tweeting. Since then, the number of followers of PONTIFex has increased to more than 1.6 million. The account was reactivated after Francis was elected.
Prominent figures from the world of politics and religious leaders began to send their regards to the new Pontiff last night.
David Cameron tweeted: A momentous day for the 1.2bn Catholics around the world as His Holiness Pope Francis I is appointed the 266th Bishop of Rome.
US President Obama offered his warm wishes to the new Pope and said the choice of a Latin American speaks to the strength and vitality of an increasingly-important region.
UN general Secretary Ban Ki-Moon Ban Ki-moon congratulated Pope Francis via Twitter, saying he is looking forward to continued cooperation between the UN and the Holy See.
Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, president of the Catholic bishops' conference of England and Wales, said: As he begins his new apostolic ministry, as the Bishop of Rome and shepherd of the universal Church, Pope Francis I may be assured of the prayers and loving support of the Catholic community throughout England and Wales.'
After hours braving the cold rain, the huge crowd in the Vatican City chanted 'Habemus Papam' and 'We have a pope' - as the bells of St. Peter's Basilica and other churches across Rome pealed at news of the election.
With excitement building before the Pope Francis's imminent appearance on the loggia, the crowd repeated the refrain 'Viva il Papa' - translated as 'Long live the Pope'.
The new Pope was dressed in his papal robes and joined in prayer with the other cardinals before his appearance.
The conclave was called after Pope Benedict XVI resigned last month for health reasons, sending the church into turmoil and exposing deep divisions among cardinals tasked with finding a replacement to address issues within the church.
[h=3]WAS CHOICE OF NAME HOMAGE TO THE SAINT WHO FOUNDED THE FRANCISCAN ORDER?[/h]
St Francis of Assisi, the 13th century Italian founder of the Franciscan order
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio will probably within the next fortnight explain to the world why he chose the name Pope Francis I.
The Vatican last night said it was a homage to St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century Italian founder of the Franciscan order, describing him as a 'lover of the poor'.
The number 'I' makes it clear that there never has been a Pope Francis before though there have been a number of saints to bear this name.
St Francis of Assisi is a man who turned his back on power and wealth to dedicate himself to a radical life of Christian poverty, evangelisation and peace-making.
St Francis was so holy that, according to Catholic belief, he received the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ, in his own body while still alive.
The attraction of taking the name of a man who founded a religious order may be strong given that the new Pope is a member of an order himself.
He belongs to the Jesuits, or the Society of Jesus, which for the 400 years the most popular order in the Catholic Church and its members were known for the bravery and academic excellence.
During the Protestant Reformation, the Popes sent Jesuits on the English Mission to build up the Catholic Church under the noses of the Elizabethan authorities.
Many of them such as St Edmund Campion and St Robert Southwell shed their blood on the scaffold of Tyburn and they have also died as martyrs in many other countries of the world.
They grew so powerful that the heads of the Jesuits were known as the black pope and were suppressed in the 18th century after their opposition to slavery infuriated the royal houses of France, Spain and Portugal.
The choice of the name of the new pope may also be connected to one of the first Jesuits St Francis Xavier a close colleague of the 16th founder, St Ignatius of Loyola.
St Francis was a missionary who took the Catholic faith to India and the Far East after Ignatius persuaded him to turn his back on a medical career.
The missionary zeal might indicate the ambitions of Pope Francis as the Catholic Church is confronted with the crisis of the loss of faith and is once again redoubling its efforts to win souls for Christ but this time in the secular West.
So pleased: Crowds have waited in rain and cold temperatures before being sent into rapture by the decision
Getting ready: Swiss guards enter St Peter's Square shortly before the new Pope's unveiling
Standing by: Two Swiss guards, the Pope's personal protection, standing below the balcony
Chants of `Long live the pope' arose from the throngs of Catholics, many with tears in their eyes and the crowds buzzed as the Vatican and Italian military bands marched through the square and up the steps of the Basilica.
They were followed by Swiss Guards, dressed in silver helmets and full regalia.
A result on only the first full day of voting in the Papal election surprised many, with the process expected to take several days.
This was due to there being no clear frontrunner in the election of the 266th Pontiff, while it was also expected the conclave would be longer as the previous Pope had not died.
The election of Pope Francis required one more ballot than Joseph Ratzinger's election process in 2005 in what was one of the quickest elections of all time.
On the first evening of that election black smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapels chimney before a further two votes the following morning did not get a result either. However the third ballot saw Benedict XVI elected after only 26 hours of debate.
With no clear frontrunner in the race to become Pope, crowds had not such an immediate decision
Ignoring the rain: Despite the grisly weather, those gathered waved flags and cheered as they awaited Benedict XVI's replacement
<center> Moment the new Pope emerged onto the balcony in Rome
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</center> [h=2][/h]<center> SKYNEWS translation of the new Pope's first speech in Rome
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Historic: The visitors in Rome were hoping to witness a moment which will doubtless go down in history
Sign of the times: Following his election Pope Francis posted messages on his Twitter and Facebook accounts
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Undeterred: The size of the crowd did not seem to be negatively affected by the foul weather over Rome
Sightseeing: A group of nuns in the Vatican's main square looking towards the Sistine Chapel
The election of the new Pope is likely to be among the fastest of all time, alongside the conclave that saw Pius Xii chosen after 20 hours in 1939.
The longest conclave of the last century went on for 14 rounds over five days, and yielded Pius XI - in 1922. The October 1978 conclave, called when Pope John Paul I died just after 33 days in office, saw cardinals vote eight times before Karol Wojtyla was chosen and became Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul Is conclave two months earlier again had only four ballots before he was chosen.
These modern-day conclaves are extremely short though in comparison to the election of Gregory XI in 1271.
His election took three years thanks to political infighting between cardinals, during which twenty of the those chosen to elect the pope died and one resigned.
Thousands of faithful Catholics had waited in the rain outside the Sistine Chapel eagerly anticipating a decision.
The pilgrims were disappointed this morning, when the cardinals failed to make a decision after voting for a second time on a replacement for Benedict XVI.
Black smoke poured out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel around 10.40am GMT to signify that the latest ballot had resulted in deadlock.
Benedict's resignation has thrown the church into turmoil and exposed deep divisions among cardinals grappling with whether to pick a manager who can clean up the Vatican bureaucracy or a pastor who can inspire Catholics at a time of crisis.
Before the announcement of a new Pontiff, the red-hatted and red-caped cardinals yesterday chanted and prayed for divine guidance as they prepared for a conclave to choose a pontiff who will face one of the most difficult periods in the Church's history.
Crowd: Thousands of the faithful have gathered in Rome to welcome the new Pope once he is elected
Flags: Many of the bystanders were accompanied either by their national colours, left, or by the banner of the Vatican itself, right
International: The Catholics gathered in Rome have assembled from around the world for the big occasion
Pilgrim: A man kneels in prayer in a rain-slicked St Peter's Square while cardinals gather in the chapel
[h=3]HIS FIRST PAPAL WORDS[/h]He began with a small joke, saying that the cardinals had gathered to pick a bishop of Rome but 'they have chosen one from far away but here I am'.
He then asked for prayers for his living predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.
He said: 'First and foremost I would like to pray for our emeritus Pope Benedict XVI that Christ and the Madonna watch over him.
'Let us begin this journey together, this journey for the Roman Catholic Church. It's a journey of friendship and love and faith between us.
'Let us pray for one another, let us pray for all the world.'
'I'd ask you to pray to God so that he can bless me,' Pope Francis I continues, before leading a silent prayer, followed by a loud cheer from the crowd.
He thanked the crowd for the welcome, adding: 'Good night and I wish you a peaceful rest.'
In St. Peter's Square, there was a fleeting moment of indecision when the first plumes of smoke appeared from the Vatican chimney.
Some cried out that it was black, signifying that no decision was made by the conclave. Then, seconds later under a steady rain, it became clear that white smoke was pouring out.
They gathered in the Pauline Chapel and walked in procession along the frescoed halls of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace into the Sistine.
'The entire Church, united with us in prayer, asks for the grace of the Holy Spirit at this moment so that we elect a worthy shepherd for the entire flock of Christ,' a cardinal said in Latin as the procession began.
They then chanted what is known as the 'litany of saints', asking more than 150 saints by name for help in making their choice of who should succeed Benedict XVI, who has withdrawn from public life after his surprise abdication last month
Once inside the Sistine, they took their places along the walls of the frescoed chapel and sang a hymn to the Holy Spirit, asking it to 'visit our minds' during the election process.
They then read an oath in Latin, promising to abide by all the rules of the conclave, including not to reveal anything that goes on during the conclave.
Some analysts had expected a relatively lengthy conclave as there was seen to be no frontrunner to succeed Benedict, who became the first pope in six centuries to step down, saying he was not strong enough at 85 to confront the woes of a Church whose 1.2 billion members look to Rome for leadership.
Smoke - white for a new pontiff, black after an inconclusive vote - emerges from the chimney on the Sistine's roof every time a ballot is held.
The balloting for the next pontiff took place under the gaze of the divine presence represented through Michelangelo's fresco of the Last Judgment, located on the wall behind the altar.
The solemn afternoon procession into the Sistine followed a morning Mass in St. Peter's Basilica where Angelo Sodano, an Italian who is dean of the cardinals, called for unity in the Church, which has been riven with intrigue and scandal, and urged everyone to work with the next pope.
Disappointment: Black smoke emerged out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel around 10.40am GMT to signify the cardinals were deadlocked
No result: Smoke rose over the roofs of the Vatican to indicate that the Pope had not yet been chosen this morning
Drenched: A worshipper crosses herself as she prays in front of St Peter's Basilica during the conclave
Sodden: The faithful were soaked in the rain as they waited for confirmation of a new Pope
On duty: Even the Vatican gendarmes had to cover up to defend against the weather in St Peter's Square
Italy's Angelo Scola and Brazil's Odilo Scherer had been spoken of as the possible frontrunners.
[h=3]'MY SON'S NOT UP TO BEING POPE'[/h]The mother of one of the leading candidates for the papacy has said she does not think he is equipped to handle the job.
Eleonore Schoenborn, the 92-year-old mother of Austrian cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, told the Kleine Zeitung newspaper that being Pope 'is much too difficult for him'.
She added that the Archbishop of Vienna was too gentle to handle 'the nastiness at the Vatican', saying he already had trouble 'dealing with the intrigues in Vienna'.
The matriarch also complained that if her son became Pope, 'I'll never see Christoph again - because I don't have the strength to go to Rome.'
The former would return the papacy to Italy after 35 years in the hands of Poland's John Paul II and the German Benedict, while Scherer would be the first non-European pope since Syrian-born Gregory III in the 8th century.
On the eve of the vote, cardinals offered wildly different assessments of what they were looking for in the next pontiff and how close they were to a decision.
It was evidence that Benedict XVI's surprise resignation has continued to destabilise the church leadership and that his final appeal for unity may go unheeded, at least in the early rounds of voting.
'My brothers, let us pray that the Lord will grant us a pontiff who will embrace this noble mission with a generous heart,' Sodano said in his homily, receiving warm applause when he thanked 'the beloved and venerable' Benedict.
The former pontiff, who retired on February 28, has excluded himself from public life and was not present yesterday.
No clear favourite has emerged to take the helm of the Church, with some prelates calling for a strong manager to control the much criticised Vatican bureaucracy, while others want a powerful pastor to combat growing secularism.
The buzz in the papal stakes swirled around Cardinal Angelo Scola, an Italian seen as favoured by cardinals hoping to shake up the powerful Vatican bureaucracy, and Brazilian cardinal Odilo Scherer, a favourite of Vatican-based insiders intent on preserving the status quo.
Cardinal Scola is affable and Italian, but not from the Italian-centric Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia.
That gives him clout with those seeking to reform the nerve centre of the church that has been discredited by revelations of leaks and complaints from cardinals in the field that Rome is inefficient and unresponsive to their needs.
Cardinal Scherer seems to be favoured by Latin Americans and the Curia.
He has a solid handle on the Vatican's finances, sitting on the governing commission of the Vatican bank, as well as the Holy See's main budget committee.
As a non-Italian, the archbishop of Sao Paulo would be expected to name an Italian as secretary of state - the Vatican number two who runs day-to-day affairs - another plus for Vatican-based cardinals who would want one of their own running the shop.
The pastoral camp seems to be focusing on two Americans, New York archbishop Timothy Dolan and Boston archbishop Sean O'Malley. Neither has Vatican experience.
Canadian cardinal Marc Ouellet is well-respected, stemming from his job at the important Vatican office that vets bishop appointments.
If the leading names fail to reach the 77 votes required for victory in the first few rounds of balloting, any number of surprise candidates could come to the fore as alternatives.
During the voting, each cardinal writes his choice on a rectangular piece of paper inscribed with the words 'Eligo in summem pontificem' - Latin for 'I elect as Supreme Pontiff'.
Holding the folded ballot up in the air, each approaches the altar and places it on a saucer, before tipping it into an oval urn, as he intones these words: 'I call as my witness, Christ the Lord, who will be my judge that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.'
First to quit in 600 years: Former pope, Benedict XVI, pictured blessing his followers for the last time as he arrived at Castel Gandolfo last month before his retirement
After the votes are counted, and the outcomes announced, the papers are bound together with a needle and thread, each ballot pierced through the word 'Eligo'. The ballots are then placed in a cast-iron stove and burned with a special chemical.
That is when all eyes turn to the 6ft copper chimney atop the Sistine Chapel to pipe out puffs of smoke to tell the world if there is a new pope.
Black smoke means 'not yet' - the likely outcome after round one. White smoke means the 266th pope has been chosen.
The next pope will face a church in crisis: Benedict spent his eight-year pontificate trying to revive Catholicism amid the secular trends that have made it almost irrelevant in places like Europe, once a stronghold of Christianity.
Clerical sex abuse scandals have soured many faithful and competition from rival evangelical churches in Latin America and Africa has drawn souls away.
Closer to home, leaks of papal documents last year exposed ugly turf battles, allegations of corruption and even a plot purportedly orchestrated by Benedict's aides to out a prominent Italian Catholic editor as gay.
[h=3]VOTE FOLLOWS SERIES OF CHOREOGRAPHED RULES HALLOWED BY TRADITION
[/h]WHO VOTES?
Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible. In this case, 115 men fit the bill.
Two cardinals who were eligible stayed home: The emeritus archbishop of Jakarta, Cardinal Julius Darmaatjadja, who is ill, and Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who recused himself after admitting to inappropriate sexual behavior.
WHAT IS THE RITUAL?
The conclave's first day begins with the 'Pro eligendo Romano Pontificie' Mass for the election of a pope.
In the afternoon, cardinals gather in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace and file into the Sistine Chapel chanting the Litany of Saints and the Latin hymn 'Veni Creator,' imploring saints and the Holy Spirit to help them pick a pope.
Standing under Michelangelo's 'Creation' and before his 'Last Judgment,' each cardinal places his hand on a book of the Gospels and pledges 'with the greatest fidelity' never to reveal the details of the conclave.
A meditation on the qualities needed for the next pope and the challenges ahead for the church is delivered by Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech.
The master of liturgical celebrations then cries 'Extra omnes,' Latin for 'all out.' Everyone except the cardinals leaves and the voting can begin.
HOW DO THEY VOTE?
Each cardinal writes his choice on a paper inscribed with the words 'Eligo in summen pontificem,' or 'I elect as Supreme Pontiff.'
They approach the altar one by one and say: 'I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.'
The folded ballot is placed on a round plate and slid into an oval silver and gold urn.
In the past, a single chalice was used to hold the ballots. But conclave changes made by Pope John Paul II in 1996 required three vessels: one for chapel ballots, another for ailing cardinals at the Vatican who can vote from their beds and the third to hold the ballots after counting.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE POPE IS ELECTED?
Once a cardinal has been elected pope, the master of liturgical ceremonies enters the Sistine Chapel and the senior cardinal asks 'Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?'
Assuming the cardinal says 'I accept,' the senior cardinal then asks: 'By what name do you wish to be called?'
The master of liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini, then enters the information on a formal document.
At this point, white smoke pours out of the Sistine Chapel chimney and bells of St Peters toll.
The new pope then changes into his papal white cassock, and one-by-one the cardinals approach him to swear their obedience.
In a change for this conclave, the new pope will stop and pray in the Pauline Chapel for a few minutes before emerging on the loggia of the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square.
Preceding him to the balcony is French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the protodeacon, who announces 'Habemus Papam!' Latin for 'We have a pope'.
The new pope then emerges and delivers his first public words as pope.
- Electors sent up white smoke at 6pm GMT indicating that a new Pope had been chosen after two days of voting
- New Pontiff unveiled as Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, taking title Pope Francis I
- Pope Francis appeared before thriving crowds on the balcony of St.Peter's Basilica at 7:15pm GMT
- He is the first non-European Pope and also the first Jesuit Pope having spent his life in Argentinian capital
- Criminal complaint was filed against him 2005 accusing cardinal of conspiring with the Argentinian junta in 1976
- Son of a railway worker who only has one lung and speaks Italian, Spanish and German
- Vatican said he took the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi because he is a 'lover of the poor'
The 76-year-old was welcomed by tens of thousands of overjoyed Catholics in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City after his election was revealed when white symbolic smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney.
Pope Francis becomes the first South American Pontiff and the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church.
His South American origin - also making him the first non-European Pope - is a significant move for the Church, taking the Papacy to a continent in which 42 per cent of the world's Catholics live amid a plethora of recent scandals affecting the Vatican.
Known as an avid reformer, he becomes the third non-Italian Pope in a row, having being born and spent his life in the Argentinian capital.
Scroll down for video and live footage
Talented: Pope Francis I, the first pontiff to have chosen that papal title, speaks German, Italian and Spanish. He is pictured right meeting his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI
He began his address to the crowd with a joke, saying that his brother cardinals had gathered to pick a bishop of Rome 'and they have chosen one from far away but here I am'. He then asked for prayers for his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.
Dressed in white robes with an elaborate stole, he said: 'First and foremost I would like to pray for our emeritus Pope Benedict XVI that Christ and the Madonna watch over him.
'Let us being this journey together, this journey for the Roman Catholic Church. It's a journey of friendship and love and faith between us. Let us pray for one another, let us pray for all the world.'
He then asked the crowd to be silent for a moment and pray for him as he accepted his new position. 'I'd ask you to pray to God so that he can bless me,' Pope Francis said, leading a silent prayer, followed by a loud cheer from the crowd.
He said that the world 'should set off on a path of love and fraternity', leaving the address by saying to the crowds: 'Good night and I wish you a peaceful rest.'
The Vatican said he chose the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, who formed the Franciscan order, saying that the new Pope is a 'lover of the poor'.
The native Spanish speaker is multilingual, also speaking German and Italian. He courted controversy in 2005 when a human rights lawyer filed a criminal complaint against him accusing the cardinal of conspiring with the Argentinian junta to kidnap two Jesuit priests in 1976.
The military junta took charge of the country after Isabel Peron was overthrown by a right-wing coup.
In his role as superior of the Society of Jesus of Argentina that year, the cardinal had allegedly asked the priests to leave their pastoral work following conflict within the Society over how to respond to the new military dictatorship.
Pope Francis is the first Jesuit Pope, the collective name given to members of the Society of Jesus, the largest order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church.
Tens of thousands had cheered in St.Peter 's Square at the sight of the symbolic plumes, announcing that the successor to Benedict XVI had finally been chosen after two days of intense voting.
The first tweet of Francis Is reign, posted on the papal Twitter account Pontifex, read: HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM, meaning We have Pope Francis.
On his personal account, he tweeted shortly after the decision, writing: 'Perhaps a little humility in saying I am simply representative of God on Earth, just as God is representative of me in Heaven.'
He followed this 20 minutes later with a message saying 'Extremely happy to be the new Pope, Francisco I'.
[h=3]THE SON OF A RAILWAY WORKER WHO WAS ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH THE ARGENTINIAN JUNTA[/h]
By Tara Brady
Pope Francis - the first Jesuit pope - has spent nearly his entire career at home in Argentina.
The former Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, reportedly got the second-most votes after Joseph Ratzinger, the last pope, in the 2005 papal election.
He has long specialised in the kind of pastoral work - overseeing churches and priests - that some say is an essential skill for a pope.
In a lifetime of teaching and leading priests in Latin America, which has the largest share of the world's Catholics, the former Bergoglio has shown a keen political sensibility as well as a self-effacing humility, according to his official biographer, Sergio Rubin.
His personal style is the antithesis of Vatican splendor. Bergoglio is also known for modernising an Argentine church that had
been among the most conservative in Latin America.
He chose the name Pope Francis I, after St Francis of Assisi and is the first pope from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in over a thousand years.
He was born in Buenos Aires, one of five children of an Italian railway worker and his wife and was ordained to the priesthood in 1969.
On April 15, 2005, a human rights lawyer filed a criminal complaint against Bergoglio, accusing him of conspiring with the junta in 1976 to kidnap two Jesuit priests, whom he, as superior of the Society of Jesus of Argentina in 1976, had asked to leave their pastoral work following conflict within the Society over how to respond to the new military dictatorship, with some priests advocating a violent overthrow.
Bergoglio's spokesman has flatly denied the allegations. No evidence was presented linking the cardinal to this crime.
Of all the contenders to replace Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was little mentioned.
The 76-year-old reportedly received the second most votes after Joseph Ratzinger, the last pope, in the 2005 papal election.
And as a representative of South America's Catholics - who make up an estimated 40 per cent of the 1.2 billion strong church, he was widely supported on a massive scale.
He became Pope Francis after a surprisingly quick conclave winning 77 votes, or two-thirds of the 115 cardinals' votes, on the fifth ballot.
His decision to pick the name Francis evokes key Christian tenets such as simplicity and humility.
And they are fitting for a man who, spending nearly his entire career in Argentina, is known for catching the bus and eschewing the luxuries of high office.
His personal style is said to be the antithesis of Vatican splendour.
Pope Francis has been described by commentators as a voice of conscience and a reconciler.
Classed by some as a moderniser of a strict South American church, he is still conservative and an opponent of such ideas as gay marriage.
Pope Benedict XVI joined Twitter in December, garnering more than 1.5 million followers before he ended his tweeting. Since then, the number of followers of PONTIFex has increased to more than 1.6 million. The account was reactivated after Francis was elected.
Prominent figures from the world of politics and religious leaders began to send their regards to the new Pontiff last night.
David Cameron tweeted: A momentous day for the 1.2bn Catholics around the world as His Holiness Pope Francis I is appointed the 266th Bishop of Rome.
US President Obama offered his warm wishes to the new Pope and said the choice of a Latin American speaks to the strength and vitality of an increasingly-important region.
UN general Secretary Ban Ki-Moon Ban Ki-moon congratulated Pope Francis via Twitter, saying he is looking forward to continued cooperation between the UN and the Holy See.
Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, president of the Catholic bishops' conference of England and Wales, said: As he begins his new apostolic ministry, as the Bishop of Rome and shepherd of the universal Church, Pope Francis I may be assured of the prayers and loving support of the Catholic community throughout England and Wales.'
After hours braving the cold rain, the huge crowd in the Vatican City chanted 'Habemus Papam' and 'We have a pope' - as the bells of St. Peter's Basilica and other churches across Rome pealed at news of the election.
With excitement building before the Pope Francis's imminent appearance on the loggia, the crowd repeated the refrain 'Viva il Papa' - translated as 'Long live the Pope'.
The new Pope was dressed in his papal robes and joined in prayer with the other cardinals before his appearance.
The conclave was called after Pope Benedict XVI resigned last month for health reasons, sending the church into turmoil and exposing deep divisions among cardinals tasked with finding a replacement to address issues within the church.
[h=3]WAS CHOICE OF NAME HOMAGE TO THE SAINT WHO FOUNDED THE FRANCISCAN ORDER?[/h]
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio will probably within the next fortnight explain to the world why he chose the name Pope Francis I.
The Vatican last night said it was a homage to St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century Italian founder of the Franciscan order, describing him as a 'lover of the poor'.
The number 'I' makes it clear that there never has been a Pope Francis before though there have been a number of saints to bear this name.
St Francis of Assisi is a man who turned his back on power and wealth to dedicate himself to a radical life of Christian poverty, evangelisation and peace-making.
St Francis was so holy that, according to Catholic belief, he received the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ, in his own body while still alive.
The attraction of taking the name of a man who founded a religious order may be strong given that the new Pope is a member of an order himself.
He belongs to the Jesuits, or the Society of Jesus, which for the 400 years the most popular order in the Catholic Church and its members were known for the bravery and academic excellence.
During the Protestant Reformation, the Popes sent Jesuits on the English Mission to build up the Catholic Church under the noses of the Elizabethan authorities.
Many of them such as St Edmund Campion and St Robert Southwell shed their blood on the scaffold of Tyburn and they have also died as martyrs in many other countries of the world.
They grew so powerful that the heads of the Jesuits were known as the black pope and were suppressed in the 18th century after their opposition to slavery infuriated the royal houses of France, Spain and Portugal.
The choice of the name of the new pope may also be connected to one of the first Jesuits St Francis Xavier a close colleague of the 16th founder, St Ignatius of Loyola.
St Francis was a missionary who took the Catholic faith to India and the Far East after Ignatius persuaded him to turn his back on a medical career.
The missionary zeal might indicate the ambitions of Pope Francis as the Catholic Church is confronted with the crisis of the loss of faith and is once again redoubling its efforts to win souls for Christ but this time in the secular West.
Chants of `Long live the pope' arose from the throngs of Catholics, many with tears in their eyes and the crowds buzzed as the Vatican and Italian military bands marched through the square and up the steps of the Basilica.
They were followed by Swiss Guards, dressed in silver helmets and full regalia.
A result on only the first full day of voting in the Papal election surprised many, with the process expected to take several days.
This was due to there being no clear frontrunner in the election of the 266th Pontiff, while it was also expected the conclave would be longer as the previous Pope had not died.
The election of Pope Francis required one more ballot than Joseph Ratzinger's election process in 2005 in what was one of the quickest elections of all time.
On the first evening of that election black smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapels chimney before a further two votes the following morning did not get a result either. However the third ballot saw Benedict XVI elected after only 26 hours of debate.
<center> Moment the new Pope emerged onto the balcony in Rome
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</center> [h=2][/h]<center> SKYNEWS translation of the new Pope's first speech in Rome
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Sign of the times: Following his election Pope Francis posted messages on his Twitter and Facebook accounts
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The election of the new Pope is likely to be among the fastest of all time, alongside the conclave that saw Pius Xii chosen after 20 hours in 1939.
The longest conclave of the last century went on for 14 rounds over five days, and yielded Pius XI - in 1922. The October 1978 conclave, called when Pope John Paul I died just after 33 days in office, saw cardinals vote eight times before Karol Wojtyla was chosen and became Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul Is conclave two months earlier again had only four ballots before he was chosen.
These modern-day conclaves are extremely short though in comparison to the election of Gregory XI in 1271.
His election took three years thanks to political infighting between cardinals, during which twenty of the those chosen to elect the pope died and one resigned.
Thousands of faithful Catholics had waited in the rain outside the Sistine Chapel eagerly anticipating a decision.
The pilgrims were disappointed this morning, when the cardinals failed to make a decision after voting for a second time on a replacement for Benedict XVI.
Black smoke poured out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel around 10.40am GMT to signify that the latest ballot had resulted in deadlock.
Benedict's resignation has thrown the church into turmoil and exposed deep divisions among cardinals grappling with whether to pick a manager who can clean up the Vatican bureaucracy or a pastor who can inspire Catholics at a time of crisis.
Before the announcement of a new Pontiff, the red-hatted and red-caped cardinals yesterday chanted and prayed for divine guidance as they prepared for a conclave to choose a pontiff who will face one of the most difficult periods in the Church's history.
Flags: Many of the bystanders were accompanied either by their national colours, left, or by the banner of the Vatican itself, right
[h=3]HIS FIRST PAPAL WORDS[/h]He began with a small joke, saying that the cardinals had gathered to pick a bishop of Rome but 'they have chosen one from far away but here I am'.
He then asked for prayers for his living predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.
He said: 'First and foremost I would like to pray for our emeritus Pope Benedict XVI that Christ and the Madonna watch over him.
'Let us begin this journey together, this journey for the Roman Catholic Church. It's a journey of friendship and love and faith between us.
'Let us pray for one another, let us pray for all the world.'
'I'd ask you to pray to God so that he can bless me,' Pope Francis I continues, before leading a silent prayer, followed by a loud cheer from the crowd.
He thanked the crowd for the welcome, adding: 'Good night and I wish you a peaceful rest.'
In St. Peter's Square, there was a fleeting moment of indecision when the first plumes of smoke appeared from the Vatican chimney.
Some cried out that it was black, signifying that no decision was made by the conclave. Then, seconds later under a steady rain, it became clear that white smoke was pouring out.
They gathered in the Pauline Chapel and walked in procession along the frescoed halls of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace into the Sistine.
'The entire Church, united with us in prayer, asks for the grace of the Holy Spirit at this moment so that we elect a worthy shepherd for the entire flock of Christ,' a cardinal said in Latin as the procession began.
They then chanted what is known as the 'litany of saints', asking more than 150 saints by name for help in making their choice of who should succeed Benedict XVI, who has withdrawn from public life after his surprise abdication last month
Once inside the Sistine, they took their places along the walls of the frescoed chapel and sang a hymn to the Holy Spirit, asking it to 'visit our minds' during the election process.
They then read an oath in Latin, promising to abide by all the rules of the conclave, including not to reveal anything that goes on during the conclave.
Some analysts had expected a relatively lengthy conclave as there was seen to be no frontrunner to succeed Benedict, who became the first pope in six centuries to step down, saying he was not strong enough at 85 to confront the woes of a Church whose 1.2 billion members look to Rome for leadership.
Smoke - white for a new pontiff, black after an inconclusive vote - emerges from the chimney on the Sistine's roof every time a ballot is held.
The balloting for the next pontiff took place under the gaze of the divine presence represented through Michelangelo's fresco of the Last Judgment, located on the wall behind the altar.
The solemn afternoon procession into the Sistine followed a morning Mass in St. Peter's Basilica where Angelo Sodano, an Italian who is dean of the cardinals, called for unity in the Church, which has been riven with intrigue and scandal, and urged everyone to work with the next pope.
Disappointment: Black smoke emerged out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel around 10.40am GMT to signify the cardinals were deadlocked
Sodden: The faithful were soaked in the rain as they waited for confirmation of a new Pope
Italy's Angelo Scola and Brazil's Odilo Scherer had been spoken of as the possible frontrunners.
[h=3]'MY SON'S NOT UP TO BEING POPE'[/h]The mother of one of the leading candidates for the papacy has said she does not think he is equipped to handle the job.
Eleonore Schoenborn, the 92-year-old mother of Austrian cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, told the Kleine Zeitung newspaper that being Pope 'is much too difficult for him'.
She added that the Archbishop of Vienna was too gentle to handle 'the nastiness at the Vatican', saying he already had trouble 'dealing with the intrigues in Vienna'.
The matriarch also complained that if her son became Pope, 'I'll never see Christoph again - because I don't have the strength to go to Rome.'
The former would return the papacy to Italy after 35 years in the hands of Poland's John Paul II and the German Benedict, while Scherer would be the first non-European pope since Syrian-born Gregory III in the 8th century.
On the eve of the vote, cardinals offered wildly different assessments of what they were looking for in the next pontiff and how close they were to a decision.
It was evidence that Benedict XVI's surprise resignation has continued to destabilise the church leadership and that his final appeal for unity may go unheeded, at least in the early rounds of voting.
'My brothers, let us pray that the Lord will grant us a pontiff who will embrace this noble mission with a generous heart,' Sodano said in his homily, receiving warm applause when he thanked 'the beloved and venerable' Benedict.
The former pontiff, who retired on February 28, has excluded himself from public life and was not present yesterday.
No clear favourite has emerged to take the helm of the Church, with some prelates calling for a strong manager to control the much criticised Vatican bureaucracy, while others want a powerful pastor to combat growing secularism.
The buzz in the papal stakes swirled around Cardinal Angelo Scola, an Italian seen as favoured by cardinals hoping to shake up the powerful Vatican bureaucracy, and Brazilian cardinal Odilo Scherer, a favourite of Vatican-based insiders intent on preserving the status quo.
Cardinal Scola is affable and Italian, but not from the Italian-centric Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia.
That gives him clout with those seeking to reform the nerve centre of the church that has been discredited by revelations of leaks and complaints from cardinals in the field that Rome is inefficient and unresponsive to their needs.
Cardinal Scherer seems to be favoured by Latin Americans and the Curia.
He has a solid handle on the Vatican's finances, sitting on the governing commission of the Vatican bank, as well as the Holy See's main budget committee.
As a non-Italian, the archbishop of Sao Paulo would be expected to name an Italian as secretary of state - the Vatican number two who runs day-to-day affairs - another plus for Vatican-based cardinals who would want one of their own running the shop.
The pastoral camp seems to be focusing on two Americans, New York archbishop Timothy Dolan and Boston archbishop Sean O'Malley. Neither has Vatican experience.
Canadian cardinal Marc Ouellet is well-respected, stemming from his job at the important Vatican office that vets bishop appointments.
If the leading names fail to reach the 77 votes required for victory in the first few rounds of balloting, any number of surprise candidates could come to the fore as alternatives.
During the voting, each cardinal writes his choice on a rectangular piece of paper inscribed with the words 'Eligo in summem pontificem' - Latin for 'I elect as Supreme Pontiff'.
Holding the folded ballot up in the air, each approaches the altar and places it on a saucer, before tipping it into an oval urn, as he intones these words: 'I call as my witness, Christ the Lord, who will be my judge that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.'
After the votes are counted, and the outcomes announced, the papers are bound together with a needle and thread, each ballot pierced through the word 'Eligo'. The ballots are then placed in a cast-iron stove and burned with a special chemical.
That is when all eyes turn to the 6ft copper chimney atop the Sistine Chapel to pipe out puffs of smoke to tell the world if there is a new pope.
Black smoke means 'not yet' - the likely outcome after round one. White smoke means the 266th pope has been chosen.
The next pope will face a church in crisis: Benedict spent his eight-year pontificate trying to revive Catholicism amid the secular trends that have made it almost irrelevant in places like Europe, once a stronghold of Christianity.
Clerical sex abuse scandals have soured many faithful and competition from rival evangelical churches in Latin America and Africa has drawn souls away.
Closer to home, leaks of papal documents last year exposed ugly turf battles, allegations of corruption and even a plot purportedly orchestrated by Benedict's aides to out a prominent Italian Catholic editor as gay.
[h=3]VOTE FOLLOWS SERIES OF CHOREOGRAPHED RULES HALLOWED BY TRADITION
[/h]WHO VOTES?
Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible. In this case, 115 men fit the bill.
Two cardinals who were eligible stayed home: The emeritus archbishop of Jakarta, Cardinal Julius Darmaatjadja, who is ill, and Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who recused himself after admitting to inappropriate sexual behavior.
WHAT IS THE RITUAL?
The conclave's first day begins with the 'Pro eligendo Romano Pontificie' Mass for the election of a pope.
In the afternoon, cardinals gather in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace and file into the Sistine Chapel chanting the Litany of Saints and the Latin hymn 'Veni Creator,' imploring saints and the Holy Spirit to help them pick a pope.
Standing under Michelangelo's 'Creation' and before his 'Last Judgment,' each cardinal places his hand on a book of the Gospels and pledges 'with the greatest fidelity' never to reveal the details of the conclave.
A meditation on the qualities needed for the next pope and the challenges ahead for the church is delivered by Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech.
The master of liturgical celebrations then cries 'Extra omnes,' Latin for 'all out.' Everyone except the cardinals leaves and the voting can begin.
HOW DO THEY VOTE?
Each cardinal writes his choice on a paper inscribed with the words 'Eligo in summen pontificem,' or 'I elect as Supreme Pontiff.'
They approach the altar one by one and say: 'I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.'
The folded ballot is placed on a round plate and slid into an oval silver and gold urn.
In the past, a single chalice was used to hold the ballots. But conclave changes made by Pope John Paul II in 1996 required three vessels: one for chapel ballots, another for ailing cardinals at the Vatican who can vote from their beds and the third to hold the ballots after counting.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE POPE IS ELECTED?
Once a cardinal has been elected pope, the master of liturgical ceremonies enters the Sistine Chapel and the senior cardinal asks 'Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?'
Assuming the cardinal says 'I accept,' the senior cardinal then asks: 'By what name do you wish to be called?'
The master of liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini, then enters the information on a formal document.
At this point, white smoke pours out of the Sistine Chapel chimney and bells of St Peters toll.
The new pope then changes into his papal white cassock, and one-by-one the cardinals approach him to swear their obedience.
In a change for this conclave, the new pope will stop and pray in the Pauline Chapel for a few minutes before emerging on the loggia of the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square.
Preceding him to the balcony is French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the protodeacon, who announces 'Habemus Papam!' Latin for 'We have a pope'.
The new pope then emerges and delivers his first public words as pope.
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